Center of Excellence in Technology for Special Education
The Center for Excellence in Special Education Technology (CFE/SET) was originally funded by the Commission on Higher Education in 1990. The original goals focused on the use of technology for students with learning and visual disabilities. The CFE/SET was housed in the Educational Technology Center with stations throughout the center that were used to demonstrate the uses of technology to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. The CFE/SET served mainly as a preview center for teachers and parents to view software in combination with assistive devices. As part of the CFE/SET, EDEX 750 Technology for Special Populations was developed to serve the needs of all master's students in special education. EDEX 750 has been taught by Dr. Cheryl Wissick since 1993, and been offered every spring semester. All special education majors, MAT and M.Ed. are required to take the course.
Original stations included Braille printer, Freestyle Companion, Apple GS stations with single switches, Muppet Keyboards, PowerPad, TouchScreen, Unicorn Keyboard, Kenx, and Headmaster technology. Visitors, teachers and College of Education students could also view prediction programs, talking word processors, and multimedia programs designed specifically for students with disabilities. Specific software from Edmark, Broderbund, and Laureate Learning demonstrated options to make alternative access accommodations for specific students.
In 1998, the CFE/SET received additional one year funding to provide training for pre-service and in-service teachers on how to program assistive devices and augmentative communication aids. The lab was then equipped with multiple stations of Intellitools and Don Johnston software to offer trainings. The CFE/SET staff presented three sessions at the Centers for Excellence Conference in March 1999. Special sections of EDEX 750, Technology for Special Populations were offered to students in the Early Childhood Special Education Program.
Since 2000, the CFE/SET has operated as part of the Office of Instructional Support in the College of Education directed by Susan W. Quinn. Susan and Cheryl work closely together to discuss options and uses of technology for special populations. Changes have been made since the original funding as we wanted to reflect current trends of inclusive education, Response to Intervention and Universal Design for Learning. With new technologies and the use of the World Wide Web, a "specific" place was no longer required as many options are available on all computers in the labs. In addition, the terminology of "special education technology" is contrary to the concept of Universal Design for Learning. Instead the center is now called Technology for Special Education meaning that users can be taught how to use any technology to meet the needs of all students. There has been a great deal of focus on free tools that all students can access and both Susan and Cheryl have presented at state and national conferences on the use of technology to support all students with exceptional learning needs. You can view a list of presentations on the presentation page.
The CFE/SET staff works closely with the professionals at the South Carolina Assistive Technology Project (SCATP) supporting the yearly AT Expo and collaborating with the SC Assistive Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC). Different agencies have also collaborated to create the South Carolina Collaborative Assistive Technology Network (SCCATN) which maintains a wiki with links to useful information on assistive technology. The staff also collaborates with the South Carolina Assistive Technology Specialists who work in the Office of Exceptional Children, State Department of Education.
Center of Excellence in Technology for Special Education College of Education - University of South Carolina Room 274 Wardlaw Building - 820 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208 803-777-4475 For additional information, please contact: Dr. Cheryl Wissick, Director cwissick@sc.edu 803-777-8859 or Susan Quinn susanq@sc.edu 803-777-8734
Center of Excellence in Technology for Special Education
The Center for Excellence in Special Education Technology (CFE/SET) was originally funded by the Commission on Higher Education in 1990. The original goals focused on the use of technology for students with learning and visual disabilities. The CFE/SET was housed in the Educational Technology Center with stations throughout the center that were used to demonstrate the uses of technology to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. The CFE/SET served mainly as a preview center for teachers and parents to view software in combination with assistive devices. As part of the CFE/SET, EDEX 750 Technology for Special Populations was developed to serve the needs of all master's students in special education.
EDEX 750 has been taught by Dr. Cheryl Wissick since 1993, and been offered every spring semester. All special education majors, MAT and M.Ed. are required to take the course.
Original stations included Braille printer, Freestyle Companion, Apple GS stations with single switches, Muppet Keyboards, PowerPad, TouchScreen, Unicorn Keyboard, Kenx, and Headmaster technology. Visitors, teachers and College of Education students could also view prediction programs, talking word processors, and multimedia programs designed specifically for students with disabilities. Specific software from Edmark, Broderbund, and Laureate Learning demonstrated options to make alternative access accommodations for specific students.
In 1998, the CFE/SET received additional one year funding to provide training for pre-service and in-service teachers on how to program assistive devices and augmentative communication aids. The lab was then equipped with multiple stations of Intellitools and Don Johnston software to offer trainings. The CFE/SET staff presented three sessions at the Centers for Excellence Conference in March 1999. Special sections of EDEX 750, Technology for Special Populations were offered to students in the Early Childhood Special Education Program.
Since 2000, the CFE/SET has operated as part of the Office of Instructional Support in the College of Education directed by Susan W. Quinn. Susan and Cheryl work closely together to discuss options and uses of technology for special populations. Changes have been made since the original funding as we wanted to reflect current trends of inclusive education, Response to Intervention and Universal Design for Learning. With new technologies and the use of the World Wide Web, a "specific" place was no longer required as many options are available on all computers in the labs. In addition, the terminology of "special education technology" is contrary to the concept of Universal Design for Learning. Instead the center is now called Technology for Special Education meaning that users can be taught how to use any technology to meet the needs of all students. There has been a great deal of focus on free tools that all students can access and both Susan and Cheryl have presented at state and national conferences on the use of technology to support all students with exceptional learning needs. You can view a list of presentations on the presentation page.
The CFE/SET staff works closely with the professionals at the South Carolina Assistive Technology Project (SCATP) supporting the yearly AT Expo and collaborating with the SC Assistive Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC). Different agencies have also collaborated to create the South Carolina Collaborative Assistive Technology Network (SCCATN) which maintains a wiki with links to useful information on assistive technology. The staff also collaborates with the South Carolina Assistive Technology Specialists who work in the Office of Exceptional Children, State Department of Education.
For more information on the Centers of Excellence visit:
South Carolina Centers of Excellence rpsec.usca.edu/centersofexc/CentersList.html
Center of Excellence in Technology for Special Education
College of Education - University of South Carolina
Room 274 Wardlaw Building - 820 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208
803-777-4475
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Cheryl Wissick, Director cwissick@sc.edu 803-777-8859
or Susan Quinn susanq@sc.edu 803-777-8734